Massenas Francis now plays out of the box

Cheap shots, taunts and being treated inferior by her teammates was how Massena senior Erin Francis began her lacrosse career.

Francis, a native of Akwesasne, started out playing on boys box lacrosse teams  an indoor version of the sport played on a surface about the size of a hockey rink.

Thats pressure right there, being the only girl, but I held my own, Francis said. At first Id hear things like, Shes a girl, or Shes not as good as us. But I showed them and they knew I could play and then there was no problem.

Still, being the only girl on a team full of boys, and being better than some of them, caused problems for Francis.

Sometimes I would be open and they wouldnt pass it, or theyd try to check me, Francis said. They didnt know I could play, yet, and I made them look silly. Then they knew I could play.

Once it came time to play at the high school level, Francis had to leave boys teams and began playing for Massenas girls squad.

She has become the top player in Section 10, leading in scoring with 55 goals and 29 assists, and next year, shell join NCAA Division I Syracuse University.

It was a huge adjustment, Francis said of playing girls lacrosse, which has less physicality allowed in its rules. I didnt know the rules and everything was the exact opposite. There was no contact. I still have those box lacrosse tendencies sometimes. In box lacrosse you keep your stick low and Ill drop my stick without noticing, because thats where its comfortable.

Box lacrosse really shaped how I play. Its a big part of my life. It really helped me out a lot. All the coaches, when they first see me play, they ask if I played box lacrosse before. I really liked playing box. I liked the contact and everything.

Franciss coach at Massena, Jeffery Slack, played for the Red Raiders as a prep athlete and previously played box lacrosse.

As a coach I like to hop in the drills sometimes, Slack said. I have a great love for the game. I love coaching it and playing it. I like to play with Erin because shes very creative and shes very deceptive. I have a great time when I get into the drills and have the opportunity to play with her.

Francis, who also plays for the womens Iroquois national team, said she grew up a fan of SU mens lacrosse and that the Powell brothers of Carthage fame were her favorite players. She met Casey Powell as a kid and told him she was going to play for the Orange someday.

Im very excited and cant wait, Francis said of SU. I went on a visit to watch one of their practices, went into the (Carrier) Dome and knew thats where I wanted to go.

Were very proud of Erin, not so much because she plays for Massena, but because she works so hard and you see what she puts into her game, Slack said. Shes a team player. Thats one of the things that is most important about her. She is constantly looking to get her teammates involved.

Francis has also become a role model for girls in her community and helps coach youth lacrosse in her spare time. Slack recalled he heard about a girl who tried to wear her hair the same way as Francis because she wanted to do everything just like her.